Foot measuring device



Aug. 23, 1932. J. FITZPATRICK 1,872,921

FOOT MEASURING DEVI CE Filed April 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l a w w J]INVEIER: i wt, fly? q-r TUQFIELgEB:

2 Sheets-Shet 2 J. FITZPATRICK FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Filed April 15,1928 w Hm...

Aug. 23, 1932.

\NENfEI 12 My M z y NE E aw H L ATTU Illlll Patented Aug. 23, 1932'J'EBEMIAH rI'TzrA'rmcK, OF WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS room MEASURINGDEVICE Application filed April 13,

The object of the invention is to provide a foot measuring device bywhich a foot is centered preliminary to measurement along a line passingthrough the longitudinal centre of the foot, by'which the foot may thenbe accurately measured as to length and width, and indication of suchmeasurement shown in terms of a proper sized shoe for such measurement.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to thedrawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of the" device.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the under side of the device. V l. a

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, and V Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a'plate having feet 2 allcombining to form a footrest. Arranged to be movable over the topsurface of this plate are two sets of stops 3, 4; 5, 6. The stops 3 and4 are arranged to be adjustably movable toward and away from one anotherover the face of the plate or footrest on aline which represents, or isassumed to represent the true longitudinal centre of the foot to bemeasured by the device. When a foot to be measured is placed upon theplate 1 between the stops 3 and 4. the stop 3 is movable to engage theextremity of the heel while the stop 4 is mov-' able to engage theextremity of the toe. The distance between the stops then determines thelength of the foot" The heel stop 3 functions both as a stop and aheel-centering mem ber, the stop being made V-shaped so that when theheel is contained therein it will be centered on the line of travel ofthe stops 3 and 4 without possibilityof lateral displacement.

The stops 5 and 6 are arranged to be adjustably movable toward and awayfrom one another over the face of the plate on a line at right angles tothe line oftravel of the heel V and toe stops 3 and 4.. The stops 5andGare each positioned an equal distance away from said line and theirrelative positioning is also such that their line of travel will passthrough the ball of the foot to be measured when en- 1928.. Serial No.269,686.

gaged by the heel and toe steps so that the stops 5 and 6 will engagethe opposite sides of a standard foot or last standard of foot adjacentits ball or the'widest part ofthe foot where a lateral'measurementisdesired. In.

other words,'the heel and toe stops. 3" and 4 are positioned to bearsuch relation to the side stops 5 and 6 that in the standard foot orlast standard of foot the side stopswill be in posi- 5;.

' justed position of the heel and toe stops may be. To put thematter inanother way, the

. PATENT .TOJFFI'CEI side stops are so located with relation to the heeland toe stopsthat the side stops will engage that portion of the ball ofthe foot bethe ball portion of a standard foot or last standard of footif it were inserted in place of the foot beingmeasured in the measuringde to centre the foot longitudinally so that the true longitudinal linebetween the heeland toe stops or linealong which they are move able willcorrespond with the longitudinalcentre of the foot. y I

The heel and toe stops are moved toward and away from one another bymeans of a mg measured at a point corresponding with "5:3

screw 7 arranged beneath the plate 1 and" turning in bearings 8 fixed tothe under side of the plate The screw. is provided with right and leftthreaded portions 9 and 10,

respectively, by which the respective stops 3 and 4 may be movedsimultaneously an equal amount in reverse directions toward or away fromone another dependingas the screw is turned in one direction or theother.. screw projects beyond the end oflthe platev 1 or footrest and isturned by a crank 11 arranged upon its end. Connection between the stops3 and 4 and therespective threaded portions of the screw is obtainedthrough slots 12 and 13, respectively, out in the The plate 1. Theseslots are so cut that the central longitudinal line of each of the slotswill lie within the line along which the stops 3 plate to be 'slidabletherein is a slide 15. To"

screw." Both the slides 15 and '16 to which the heel and toe stops areconnected have and 4 are movable. The stops 3 and 4 are each carried bya base piece 14 which slides upon the top surface of the plate 1 asstops are moved, the base piece for the respective jstops being wider'than the slots in the plate and overlapping the plate adjacent theopposite sides of the slot. Connected to the base piece 141 of theiheelstop and extend: ing-down through the adjacent slot 12 in the this slideis secured a nut15 arranged on the threaded portion'9 of the screw.Connected to thebase piece 14 of the toe stop is a. slide 16 arrangedfwithin and extending. down through'theslot l3 inthe plate and providedwith a nut-forming extensionlti arranged on. the threaded portion 10 ofthe -a' 'snug' sliding fit within the slots within which they arecontained and the opposite sides 'of the slots will 1 accordinglyfunction @as' guides :for the respective slides and throughthemwillcause the heel andtoe stops as they are inoved the turning of the screwto hold to 'a properly c'ent-ere'd'line' of travel Secured to the basepiece 14 of the stop '4 I is apointer17. This pointerextends at rightangles to the line of travel of thestops 3 and 4, and the end thereofindicates certain spaced lines 18 on a plate 19 secured to the plate 1"andwith which lines 18 arelassociated numerals 1 to 13, inclusive, whichcorrespond with the different sizes of shoes in pointof length. In otherwords, as a foot ismeasured the adjusted position of the stop 4 willthrough the pointer indicate the proper size ofshoe as to length, thedifferent I 20 arranged beneath the plate 1 andt'urning sizesbeing'determined by the changed position of'the stop'4. V i

' The stops 5. 'and 6' are moved toward and away'from one anotherbymeans of asc'rew in bearings2l fixedto the under side of the plate. Thescrew 20 is'provided with right and left threaded portions 23 by which vthe respective stops 5 and '6 will be moved its end. Connection betweenthestops 5 and 6 and the respective threaded portions of the screw areobtained through slots 25, 26,'re-

, spectively, cut in the plate 1. I These slots are'cut to lie inalignment with one another with the central line thereof at right anglesto the line of travel of the stops3 and 4. The

stops 5 ai1d6-are each carried by a base piece 27 which slides upon thetop surface of the,

*for'the respective stops 5 and 6 slide with Connecting with they basepiece 27 of the a respective stops 5 and 6 and extending through theslots 25, 26,v respectively, in the plate Iare slides28, the'slidecon'nection for the stop 5 is rovidea'wah' a nut-forming 'eXtension 29arranged on the threaded portion 22 of;thescrew.20, and the slideconnection for the stop 6 is provided with a nutforming extensionarranged on the threaded portlon 2230f the samescrew. The slides a loosefit in the respective slots along which they are movable, and theopposite sides of the slots will accordingly function as guides for therespective slides and through them will cause the stops 5 andt as theyare moved by the turning of; the screw20 to'movealong a line at rightangles to the line of travel of the stops :8 and 4.1' As the stops 5 and6 are moved simultaneously inward and. outward along their line oftravel they willmaintain at all times anequal distancefro'm line oftravelof the/stops 3 and 4 and accordingly drawing against the sides ofa foot placed upon the pla'tewith the heel bearing against andcenteredby the stop 3 as aforesaid will through'their drawing contactagainstthe side drum foot cause it to be truly centered with relation.to the line of travel ofthe stops 3 and 4, after which furthermanipulation of the stops 5'and 6 will cause them to bear lightlyagainst theoppositesides of the foot at the ballso thatthedistance'betweenthe stops will. correspond with the width 'of thefoot; I i The properv width of shoe forany determinate footmeasurementas to'widtln taking into consideration the size of the shoeas to length, is indicated as follows: Fixed inthe top of the plate lis'a circular dial 32. This.

dial is I provided on" its top surface with spaced'lines or. graduations33 With which are associated the commonly employed notations ofshoeiwidthvarying'from 4A- to H, inclusive; Turning within this outerdial is a circular indicator" plate 34., This plate alongitsedge'is'provided with spaced radial lines or gradua'tions 35,thespacing of these lines or graduations corresponding substantiallywith the spacing of the lines or graduations'33 on theouter circulardial 32 so that i when the indicator plate 34 is turnedto' a determinateposition the graduations thereon and on thedial, respectively, willcoincide. Associated withthe spaced lines or graduations 35 on theindicator plate are notations of shoe'lengths varyingfrom 1 to 13, in-

elusive, these indications corresponding with the commonly, employedindications of shoe lengths. The indicator plate 34 is fixed to a shaft36 which extends throughtheplate 1 rec acting as 'a bearing, through anauxiliary plate 37 secured to the underside of the plate The inner endof the sleeve 38 bears against the under side of the plate 37 andthereby operates to'hold the indicator plate 34 in place on the plate 1but withpermitted turning with relation to'the top surface of the plate.Meshing with the gear 39 is a gear 40 the hub of which is arrangedtoturn on a shaft 41 fixed to and projecting downward from theauxiliary. plate 37, the 'huboi the gear 40 being retainedby anut 42 onthe lower end of the shaft. Turning also on the shaft 41 and fixed tothe hub of the gear '40 is a worm gear 43 which is turned by a worm 44arranged upon the body of the screw 20. In other words, the circularplate 34 isturned through the chain of mechanism just recited by theturning of the screw 20 and will be turned in a clockwise oranticlockwise 'direction as the screw 20 is similarly turned by its handwheel 24. j

Thegraduations on the-circular dial or scale 32 indicating width of'shoeoccupy a spaced relation to one another commensurate with determinatechangedpositions of the side stops and 6; also the pitchof the screwwhich operates the side stops is such that the side stops will be movedwith a determinate degree of movement so that changed adjusted positionsthereof will be commensurate with the graduations on the scale 32indicating width of shoe. ;In other words, the distance between thegraduations on the scale 32 is substantially commensurate with thechanged distance between the stops 5 and 6 as they are adjusted tomeasure a single size. The graduations 1 to 13, inclusive, indicatingsize of shoe'astolength on the indicator plate 34 are arranged inpositions commensurate withdeterminate adjusted positions ofthe sidestops 5 and 6 and the spaces between these graduations are substantiallyequal to thespacesjbetween the graduations on the scale 32 indicatingwidth of shoe. The indicator34co-operates with the scale 32 in suchmanner that any one of its graduations, as the indicator is moved, willtraverse all the graduations on the scale 32 and coincide with any oneof these graduations for purposes of indication. The operation of themechanism for moving the indicator 34 is such that as theside stops aremoved for varying their adjusted position the indicator will bemoved ina direction determinate with the direction of movement of the side stopsand in such an amount that" the indicator will move a distance equal tothe space between the graduations on the scale 32 indicating width asthe side stops are moved in an amount equal to a single shoe width.

The disposition, order and arrangement of width of shoe for anydeterminate foot measthe parts being thus "obtained, the proper"urement,f taking into consideration the size.

of the shoe-as to lengtlnwill be determined by the turning of the screw20. For example,

assuming a foot being measured requires a- No. 7 shoe in length asindicated by the pointer 17 withrelation to the graduations and theplate 19, the foot having been measured for length, is measured forwidth by the turn ingot the'screw 20in one direction or'the V other formoving'the stops 5 and 6 into engagement with the sides of the footatthe I ball. By nowreferring to the scale 32 and the indicator plate 34which turns with relation to the scale 32 the proper width of shoeisindicated for the measured foot which remg the. line'uponthe-indicator plate 34 with which is associated the numeral 7 and thennoting where this line points on the scale 32. the place of its pointingindicating the prop- .er width of shoe. It may point to a line orgraduation with whichis associated the let ter C, whereupon it will beknown that this particular foot requiring a N0. 7 shoe in length, willrequire a No. C in width; In this way the proper width of shoe isascertained for any measured footwhich requires any. determinate size ofshoe as'to length.

The-operation of using the device is as follows: All the stops 3, 4; 5,6 are first turned out so that the foot to be measured placed upon theplate 1 will fit freely between all the stops. The heel isthen snuglyinserted in the stop 3. The heel-stop 3 is then moved inward until theside stops 5 and 6 lie on opposite sides of the ball of the foot. As theheel stop 3 is moved inward the toe stop will also be moved'inward to apoint in substantial contact with the toeend of the foot. The side stops5 and 6 are then moved inward by the turning of the screw 20 ina'clockwise direction until both bear snuglyagainst the opposite sidesof'the foot at the ball. This acts to centre the foot upon the plate 1,the heel stop 3' together with the two side stops 5 and 6 then forming athree-point contact by which theioot is centered along a linepassingthrough its longitudinal centre and which line is the line of travel ofthe stops?) and 4. The stops 3 and 4 are then moved inward so that theywill contactwith v i broughtto bear upon the footso that its fullnumerical indications of size appearing on quires a No. 7 shoe as tolength, by first not- 1.3.

width 'dimensionis obtainable The stops 5 and 6 are then moved so as tolightly bear against the opposite sides of the foot at the ball'by theturning of the screw 20, which turned position of the screw 20 andadjusted positions ofthe stops 5 and G-then determine .the'proper widthof shoe forthe' measured foot as indicated by the indicatorB l on thescale 32 in the manner previously explained. Inasmuch as the side stopsare so located the heel and toe stops are engaging its opposite ends,ensures that any foot'bein'g measured in the device'will be given a shoeproperly corresponding with the measurement taken inasmuch as shoes havea certain standard of form and the measurement will correspond with suchstandard.

Having thus fully described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. In a foot measuring device,thecombination comprising a foot rest,'spaced heel and toe stops formeasuring the length of a foot movable toward and away from one anotherto any determinate adjustedposition along a commoir'line of travelextending substantially through the longitudinal centre of a footinterposed between said stops'and resting upon the foot rest, side stopsformeasuring the width of a foot, said side stops being locatedrelatively to said heel and'toe stops whereby the side stops will engagethat portion of the ball of the foot being measured at'apo'intcorresponding with the ball por-' tion of a standard foot 'or'laststandard of foot were it inserted in place of the foot being measured inthe measuring device, and means for simultaneously moving the heel andtoe stops each in an equal amount toward or away from one anotherwhereby the rela tion of said side stops thereto will be maintained.' Y1

'2. 'In' a foot measuring device, the combi' nation comprising a footrest, spaced heeland toe'stops for measuring the lengthof-a foot andmovable toward and away from one another to any determinate adjustedposition along a common line of travelextending substantially throughthe longitudinal centre of a foot interposed between said stops andrestingupon' the foot rest, side stops for measuring the width of a footmovable toward and away from one another to any determinate beingmeasured in the measuring device, means for simultaneously moving theside stops eachin an equal amount toward or away from one another, andmeans for'simultaneously moving the'heel and toe stops each in an equalamount toward or away from one another wherebythe relation of said sidestops thereto will be maintained.

V '3. In a foot measuring device, the combination comprising a footrest, spaced heel and toe stops movable toward and away from one anotherto any determinate adjusted position along a common line oftravelextending substantially through the longitudinal centre of a footinterposed between said'stops and resting uponthe foot rest, said heelstop being formed also whereby it will function asa centering device forthe heel portion of the foot interposed'between said stops with relaheeland toestops whereby the side stops will engage that portion of the ballof'a foot being measured at a point'corresponding with the ball portionof a standard foot or last standard of foot were it inserted in place ofthe foot being measured in the measuring device, said heel stop'and saidside stops co-operatingalso to form a three-point contact whereby a footinterposed between the heel and toe stops and centered in part by theheelIstop-will be furthercentered along the line of travel of the heeland toe stops as the side stopsare moved into engagement with theopposite sides of thefoot, means for simultaneously moving the sidestops each in an equal amount toward or'away fromone another, and meansfor simultaneously mov-f ing the heel and toe stops in an equal amounttoward. or away from one another whereby the relation of the sidestopsthereto will be maintained. 7 g 4:. In a foot-measuringdevice, thecombinationcomprisingside' stops movable toward and away'from oneanother for measuring the width of a foot, mechanism for indicating suchmeasurement, said mechanism including a member with notations thereonprogressive ly arranged indicating difierent widths of shoe, and withspaced graduations corresponding with such notations and commensure withdeterminate changedpositions of said side stops, a member havingthereonnotations progressively arranged indicating difierent lengths ofshoe, with spaced graduations corresponding therewith, and whichgraduations onthe respective members are adapted to have alignment withone another iae when said members are in determinate relative positions,one of said members being fixed with the graduations thereon circularlyarranged, the other of said membersbeing circular in form and rotary,with graduations thereon circularly arranged to have coordination withthe graduations on said fixed member, means for arranging said memberswhereby the graduations thereon will occupy determinate positions withrelation to one another for determinate positions of said side sto ms,means for simultaneously moving said side stops either toward or awayfrom one another, and 'means for rotating the rotary one of said memberssaid side stops are moved with a direction or" movement determinate withthe direction of movement of said side stops and in an amount equal tothe spacing between the graduat-i ns there-on as said side stops aremoved in an amount equal to a single shoe width.

5. In a foot-measuring device the combination comprising side stopsmovable toward and away from one another for measuring the width of afoot, mechanism for indicating such measurement, said mechanismincluding a member with notations thereon progressively arrangedindicating different widths of shoe and with spaced graduationscorresponding with such notations and commensurate with determinatechanged positions of said side stops, a member having thereon notationsprogressively arranged indicating different lengths of shoe and withspaced graduations corresponding therewith, and which graduations on therespective members are adapted to coincide when said member are indeterminate relative positions, means for arranging said members wherebythe graduations thereon will occupy determinate positions with relationto one another for determinate positions of said stops and whereby alsosaid members may be movable relatively to one another and the relativepositions of the gradnations thereon changed, means for simultaneouslymoving said side stops either toward or away from one another, and meanswhereby said members may be moved relatively to one another as said sidestops are moved with a direction of movement determinate with thedirection of movement of said side stops and in an amount equal to thespacing between the graduations on either of said members as said sidestops are moved in an amount equal to a single shoe width.

6. In a foot-measuring device, the combination comprising side stopsmovable toward and away from one another for measuring the width of afoot, mechanism for indicating such measurement, said mechanismincluding separate members, one fixed and the other movable, therespective members having notations thereon progressively arranged, onebearing notations of shoe lengths, the other notations of shoe widths,each of the respective membersbearingalsofgraduations sorta;

'sponding with its respective notations, and

which graduations on the respective members s are adapted tohavealignment with one another when said members are" in determinaterelative positions, meansifor arranging said memberswhereby thenotations and gradua trons thereon will bear a certaindet'ermlnaterelationship to the difierent positions occuipied by said side stops,means for simultaneously moving sa d sldc stops either toward or,awayfroinjone another, and meansfor moving the movable one ofsaidmembers as said side stops'are moved with a direction ofmovementdeterminate with the direction of movement ofsaid side stops and inan'ainount equal to thespace between the graduations on said movablemember as said side stops are moved in an amount equal to a single shoewidth-whereby any determinate size of shoe in length may be read interms of width.

7. In afoot-measuring device, the 'c'ombination comprising a viootrest,spaced side: stops simultaneouslymovable over the face of saidfootresttowardor away from one an other to any determinate adjustedposition along a comon line of travelextending sub stantially throughthe ball portion of a foot disposed between said stops, a scale for indicatin dilierent sizes of shoes as .to width with graduationscommensurate with determinate changed positions of saidside stops, means1 for moving said side stops with a determinate degreeof movementwhereby changed adjusts ed positions thereof will be commensurate withthe graduations on'said scale, a movable indicator for said scaleindicating width have ing thereon spaced graduations indicative of;sizes of shoes as to length and which gradu I ations are arranged inpositions commensur,

ate with determinate' adjusted'pos itions of said side stops and thespaces between which is graduations-are substantiallyequal to the spacesbetween the graduations onsaid scale indicating width, said movableindicator 60- operating with said scale indicating width in a mannerwhereby any oneof its graduations as the indicator is movedmay traversestops are moved in an amount equal to a single shoe width.

8. A foot-measuring devlce comprising a footrest, spaced heel and toestops simultaneously movable toward and away from one another to anydeterminate adjusted position along a common line of travel extendingsubstantially through the longitudinal centre of a foot interposed 'between said stops, side stops eacliarranged equidistantly from the line,of'travel of the heel and toe stops and simultaneously movable towardand awayv from one another to any determinate adjusted position along acommonline of travel extending at rightangles to theline of travel ofthe heel and toe stops with disposition also whereby the side stops willengage the op- 'fposite sides of a foot disposed between the heel andtoe stops at substantially the ball part of Y the foot, a scale forindicating different sizes to a single of shoes as to length withgraduations thereon commensurate with determinate changed adjustedpositions of said. heel and toe stops,

means for moving said heel andtoe stops with adeterminate degree ofmovement whereby the changed adjusted position thereof will becommensurate with the graduations onsaid ,Tscale, means whereby anychanged adjusted position ofsaid heel and toe stops will be indicated onsaid scale, a scale for indicating different sizes of shoes as to widthwith graduations thereoncommensurate with determinate -{changedposltions of sald side stops, means for movingsaid side stops with a,determinate degree of movement 'whereby changed adjusted positionsthereof will be commensurate with the graduations on'said scaleindicating width, a movable indicator-forv said scale indicating widthhaving thereon spaced gradua tions indicative of sizes of shoes as tolength and whichgraduations are arranged in positions commensurate withdeterminate adjustedzpositions of said side stops and the spaces betweenwhich graduations are substantially equal to the spaces between thegraduations on'said scale indicating width, saidmovable indicator'coioperating with said 'iscale indicating width in a manner whereby anyone of-its 'graduations as the indicator is moved may traverse the scaleindicating width andlcoincide for purposes of indication'with anygraduation thereon, and means whereby said indicator will be moved assaid side stops are moved in a direction determinate with thedirectionof movement of said side stops and in such amount that saidindicator will move a distance equal to the space between theI-igraduations on the scale indicating width as said side stops aremovedin an amount equal shoe width. JEREMIAH FITZPATRIGK.

